Machine for molding ceramics.



D. W. MCNEIL.

MACHINE FOR MOLDING CERAMICS.

APPLICATION man MAR. 19, 1911.

km2., 1.99. v Patented Apr. 29,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Patented Api. 29, 1919.

4 EET HE ILED MAR. I9. 1917.

APPLICATION F D W II/I NEIL MACHINE FOR. IVIOLDING CERAMICS.

U. W. McNElL. MACHINE FOR MOLDINC CERAMICS.

I APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19| i911. l SZQL Patented Apr. 29, 1919.

V 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3. Fay 6 Snom/woz D. W. II/IcNEIL. MACHINE FOR IVIOLDING CERAMICS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I9. 1917. y 1.8m, 319i., .Patented Apr. 29,1919.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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I I l ,Il i? II 27 22 22 20/ Q" /q @si wf\\@/ Wg 58 4W I .59 II\E 5J wventoz ments of the machine together at the time the interior-of the mold is being subjected to ressure from cylinder 29, I have provided key lugs 2()EL and 21a on. lock bars 2O and 21, whichengage correspondingly shaped key slots in lugs 30l and 30h formed on standard 30.`

Portion 13. of the bottom o f the mold is i provided with a hollow 34 adapted to form the bowl of the lavatory.' This hollow is provided with a channel 35 in which the external walls of the overflow passage of the bowl are adapted to be molded. This passage extends from the top to the center of the hollow and communicates with an orifice 36 formed in the bottom thereof for the drain ofthe bowl. Surrounding the orifice 36 are a series of small openings 37 which communicate at their lower ends with the atmosphere. The functionA of these' small openings is to permit the escape of air from the clay during the molding operation. Bowl portion 13 is supported upon springs 38, the amount of expansion of which is controlled by bolts 39 passing into the por- 'the central portion 13 of the bottom of the mold is yieldingly supported .upon the springs 38and that it has a movement equal to the movement permitted by the bolts 39 between the plate 40 and the top of the plunger 25. Located outside the central portion 13 of the bottom 12 is a' portion 14 adapted to form a rim surrounding the central portion 13 and within which central portion 13 is adapted to reciprocate. This rim is bolted to the plate 40 so that movement of the plunger 25 will operate directly upon the rim. Back wall 18 engages the lower portion of rim 14 at the back, walls 15 and 16 engage the lower portion of the rim at the sides, and front wall 17 engages the lower portion of the rim at thefront. The inner surfaces of walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 arepolished as are also all surfaces of portion 13 and rim* 14 of the bottom of the mold, as well as the clay contacting surfaces of the cover 19 and wall section 24.v

Wall 18 is 'in the form of an angle iron, a portion 18a extending to the rear thereof and supporting section 24 of the rear wall of the mold. This section 24 consists of a rim 44 which is bolted to plate 45 secured to a blockv 46, whichis in turn operated upon by thev plunger 28. Rim 24 is substantially U-shaped, as shown in, Fig. 1, it being inverted with its ends resting upon and in sliding engagement with rearward extension 18 ofl Wall 18. Within rim 44 is a portion 47 which is also U-shaped, but whichrhas its branches extending upwardly, the bottom resting in sliding engagement with extension 18a of wall 18. This portion 47 is mounted upon bolts 48 which are secured thereto and which extend through plate 45, springs 49 being located on the bolts for holding the portion away' from the plate. Within the branches' of portion 47 is located another portion 50, this portion being provided with bolts 51 which pass through plate and upon which are mounted springs 52 in the same manner that springs 49 are mounted on bolts 48. The action of springs 49 is to hold portion 47 beyond portion 24 and the action of springs 52 is to hold portion beyond portion 47 so that in its movement during the molding operation, the portions 50, '47 and 44 will be brought successively into compressing engagement with the clay located in the mold. The function performed by having portion 50 advanced beyond portion 44 is that sucient clay may be placed between detachable plates 69 and 68 to become compressed when the lavatory is molded and thereby form the ianges of the recesses formed by the detachable plates. Forward movement of plunger 28 which controls wall section 24, is controlled by the admission of water through pipe 53 and through the back of cylinder 29, a gasket 54 being provided on plunger 24 to prevent the leakage of water between it'and cylinder 29. After having been moved to its operative position, plunger 28 is withdrawn by means of plunger 32 located in cylinder 31, rod 33, connecting plunger 32 with piston 28, a pipe 55 being provided through which the admission and discharge' of water to and from cylinder 31 is controlled.

Walls 15 and 16 are duplicates of one another, upward extensions 15El and 16a being provided for partially embracing rim 44 of back wall section 24, the inner surface of each extension 15a and 16a being curved to engage the surface of rim 44. This permits of the rounded upper corners of the back or Asplash board section of the lavatory being formed. Against the front edges of extensions 15EL and 16a a plate 56 -is adapted tobe located, flanges 15b and 16b being provided for properly locating plate 56 when walls 15 and '16 are brought to their closed positions. The back surface of plate 56 is polished and is provided with a groove 57 conforming to the curvature of the rolled rim around the back of the lavatory as disclosed in Fig. 8'. The lower ends of the groove 57 are rounded off as well as that portion of the surface surrounded by the groove, so that when the lavatory is molded, the divi- Sion between the basin portion and the back consists of a main portion 59 adapted to cover that portion o the mold inclosed by the wall 17 and those portions of walls 15 and 16 which are located on opposite-'sides of the bottom 12. At the back of main portion 59 an upward extension 60 is provided. This extension is located over the rim 44 of wall vsection 24 and is adapted to close the top of the mold by engaging extensions 15a and 16?L of the sides 15 and 16 as Well as to form a support for plate 56 located between the flanges 15b and 16". Main portion-,59 of the top 19 is provided with a rim 61 which surroundsy the sides 15, 16 and 17 and whichv is adapted to hold them in their yclosed positions and of sufficient strength to prevent their displacement therefrom when sub-v jected to the pressure to which the mold is subjected. On the under side of main portion 59 is a projection 62 corresponding to the shape and size of the interior of the basin of the lavatory to be molded. .This projection, when the top is lowered, occupies a position within the hollow 34 of portion 13 of the bottom 12 of the mold, with sufficient space between it and portion 13 to permit of ample clay to occupy the space between them in order to form the bottom and sides of the basin when the mold is brought to its compressing position. Suc rounding this projection 62 is a groove 63 which coperates with the grooves 58 and 57 of the walls 15, 16 and 17 and late 56 respectively, in forming the rolle rim of the lavatory. In additiontoA this the under surface of the top 19 is provided with recesses 64 adapted to form thelugs which surround the water faucets and drain plug operating handle of the lavatory.

Since the lavatory of the type disclosed in Fig. 8, is provided with a series of recesses 1 and hidden passages for the purpose of providing means for supporting the lavatory on the wall of the building to which it is to be attached Ias well'as for an overHow passage and outlet, ll have provided means for molding` these passages simultaneously with the ln moldthe' basin of the extending through the main portion of the top 19 and terminating in a lug642 formed on the bottom of the projection 62. 1n this passage I mount a -pin 65, the pin extending therethrough and into the oriiice 36 of the.V hollow 34 of the central portlon lttofthey maaier .side of the opening 63 I locate openin bottom 12. This keepsthe clay from occupying this space and therefore provides the lavatory with an outlet passage. At each 66 adapted to coperate with pins 67, whic are provided for these openings, for forming the faucet receiving apertures of the lavatory. Similar means is provided for the aperture of the stop plug operating handle.v

Inv order to form the recesses which receive the wall Ahooks upon which the lava'- tory is mounted in securing it in position on the wall 'of thebuilding, I have provided two plates 68 and 69 which are mounted on portion 50 of the wall section 24. These plates are removable from portion 50 by reason of the detachable mountingv adorded them by 4pins 70 located'on the back of the plates, so that when the plates are embedded in the clay upon brin ing the plunger 28 to its molding position, t ey will be left therein upon withdrawal of the plunger from its molding position, so that when the molded lavatory 1s removed from the machine these plates may be removed therefrom andl replaced in the position disclosed in Fig. 1.

To facilitate the removal of the plates,

.portion 50 is provided with a passage 50a back of each plate 68 and 69, in each of which is reciprocally mounted a thimble 78 adapted to engage the rear surface of each of the plates, see Fig. 10. Within each thimble a coil spring 79 is mounted, the

springl at its inner end engaging a rod 80 which is of suiicient length to abut plate 45. Formed upon the rod is an annular flange 81 above which is formed a passage in portion 50', the passage being in alinement with the flange. 1n this passage a pin 81 is reciprocally mounted, the upper end of the pin engaging a slot 82 formed in portion 44.- lln their inoperative positions the parts are as shown in Fig. 10, the pin 81a engaging the surface of the liange 81 of rod 80.

When plunger 28 is moved to compress the clay in the machine, ortion 50 is moved backward to the positlon in whichin 81a drops back of flange 81, the action o rod 80' tac plunger, because of theengagement of pin 81 with the rear surface of Hange 81.' rllhis overcomes any danger of the removable plates failin to leave portion 5.0 when plunger 28 is wit drawn.l After the plunger has been withdrawn, rod 80and thimble 79 are restored to their normal positions by withdrawing-pin 81 to permit the rod to'seat vitself againstiplate 45 and to permit thimbles 78 to be pushed back to theposition disclosed in Fig.l 10.

In order to mold the overiow passage I have provided a horn shaped implement 71 which is adapted to occupy the recess 35 of the bowl 34 and to rest upon the clay located in this recess and in engagement with the projection 62 of the top 19 when the mold is closed, the clay being worked around the horn so that it will be embedded in the bowl after molding operation thereof is completed. v The horn then may be removed by slipping it from the passage it has formed. Each of the lock bars 20 and 21 as well as the walls 15, 16 and 17 are pivotally mounted on the base of the machine as disclosed in Fi s. 1 and 2.

n operation; The polished interior are-first coated with a mixture of lard oil and coal oil, abou-t 50%. of each being employed. This mixture is designed to prevent the clay from, adhering to the surfaces when the walls are moved from one another after the molding operation has been completed. After the polished surfaces have been coated, the walls 15, 16 and 1-7 are movedinwardly until they engage the lower portion of the `rim 14 of the bottom of the mold. This brings extensions 15EL and 16a into engagement with the ends of rim 44 of wall section 24.. The walls are retained in this position either byy reason of their being normally inclined toward the center when moved to this position or they may be supported in this `position by` struts placed against them and havin their lower ends bearing upon the floor. `With the walls held in this position and the bottom plunger 25 moved to its lowest position as'well as the plunger 28 moved to the limit of its backward movement, the space between the walls is filled with the dust-like mixture of pulverized clay and water. This is worked care-- fully into the space between the walls and the upper portlon of the rim 14 by the hands, andthe vtop above the rim is filled with clay. However, previous to, placing any clay in the hollow I34 a piece of felt 74 is placed therein to cover the openings of the vent passages 37, and a form 72 is placed in the hollow and the cla is filled around it. The purpose of the Velt is to prevent clogging of the vent passages by the clay. This operation p-acks the clay into an e'mbryonic form of the bowl or basin before it is comlpressed. However, after partially f filling the space surrounding the form 72 the horn 71 is placed in the channel 35 o4 the hollow 84 and the clay is worked around it and between it and the form, as disclosed in Fig. 3. The form is now rocked in all directions against' the clay surrounding it to slightly compress it in order to cause it surfaces of the mold Y to retain the general formation given it by the hollow 34. Form 72 is provided with a handle 73 which is utilized for this purpose, the lower end of the handle being located in the orifice 36 during this operation. After having been filled to the top of the walls a plate 75 is placed thereon, this plate being provided with lugs 76 which space it properly on the walls. The under surface ofthe plate is provided with a curved recess 77 which extends around it and which coperates with the groove 58 of the walls 15', 16 and 17. The clay is now worked into this groove or recess, the plate being retained in this position until the groove is illed. When completely filled the lower portion of the mold presents the appearance disclosed in Fig. 3. Plate 56 is now: placed in position between the fianges 15b and 16b with its groove 57 facing wall section 24. The plate is held in position while the space between it and the wall section is filled with the clay and is packed into position by the hands. When the mold is -completely filled, temporary form plate 75 is removed but plate 56 is allowed to remain, form 72 also being carefully removed. Themold now being filled, pins 65 and 67 are placed in their respective openings 63 and 66 and cover 19 is lowered into position to engage the walls, projection 62 extending into hollow 34 and rim 61 engaging the outer faces of walls '15, 16 and 17, with upward extension 60 located on top of rim 44 of wall section 24. Lugs 22 and 23 of cover 19. are now en aged by the lock bars 20 and 21, these loc bars being brought over the lugs to retain the cover in position and simultaneously bringing their -shaped lugs 2()a and 21a into engagement with the correspondingly shaped recesses of the lugs 30a and 30b of the standard 30. In this position the bars prevent displacement of the cover when the interior of the mold is subjected to pressure from the plunger 2'5 and lugs 20a and 21*l prevent movement of-standard 30 from the mold when plunger 28 is subjected to pressure.

Upon being subjected to pressure the water in the lower cylinder forces piston 25 upwardly carrying with it rim 14 and central portion 15 of the bottom of the mold. Simultaneously with this movement, lunger 28 carries with it wall section 24. he result is that the clay between the cover and the bottom and between the cover and wall section 24 is compressed, walls 15, 16, 17 and 18 determining the size of thelavatory when completed. When thel vertically moving plunger 25 moves upwardly, central portion 13 of the bottom 12 presses the .clay into engwagement'with projection 62 of cover 19.

his compression extends over a period sufiicient to expel substantiall all of the air contained in the loosely pack/ed clay and rcsults in the springs 38 yielding as soon as isomer of tension as tocause springs 52 to yield. After this degree of compression has been reached, section 47 is caused to engage the claywwith suliicient pressure to cause its springs 49 to yield. The pressure is then continued until rim 44 has brought all of the clay to the same degree of compression. Substantially all of the air contained in the loosel packed clay has now been expelled there om. In practice Ind that approximatel 150 .pounds per square inch 1s re,- quire for this purpose.` After the plungers Consequently, centrally have ceased their compression movements.

under this pressure,the pressure is increased to 1000 pounds per square inch. rlhis great pressure now brings the clay to a plastic condition,the air being entirely expelled and the water so closely incorporated with the cla as to render it plastic and capable of easily filling the space between the bottom and top and between the walls of the mold. This great pressure is maintained until the Elastic condition of the `cla has caused it to ecome thoroughly molde and forced into all lparts of the'mold. The pressure is now released and plunger 25 permitted to return to its normal posltion in the bottom oi the cylinder 26, this action withdrawing rim 14 and central portion 13 from the molded lavatory. Upon releasin the pressure from cylinder 29, lpressure is a mitted to cylinder 3l. rlhis causes plunger 32 to withdraw unger 28 and consequently wall section 24.

owever, in withdrawingwall section 24, plates 68, 69 having been moldedinto the lavatory, are left therein, the wall section returning to its normal position without them. Lock bars 20 and 21 are now thrown -Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A molding`- machine comprising amovable bottom having teleseopmg sections, a topfcoperating with the bottom, said bottom having a hollow formed therein and sa1d top 'having a projection adapted to enterl the hollow, front, side and back walls surrounding the bottom, the front and vside walls bein adapted to engage the top, the back wall ing spaced from the to and a movable Wall located in .the space etween the .top and the -back wall, said movable wall havmg a series of telescopin portions, and means adapted to move sai movable bottom and wall to bring said telescoping portions into engagement with material located' in the space between said walls, bottom and 2: A molding machine comprising a movable bottom having telescoplng portions, a

become embedded in the material located in the space between said walls, bottom and top when said movable wall and movable bottom are brought into compressing engagement with said material, and means for reciprocating the wall and bottom .to and from their operative positions, whereby' said removable portions of said wall will be detached from said wall upon return oi sai -wall to its inoperative position.

3. ln a mold for lavatories the combination of a movable bottom wall, side walls surrounding the movable bottom. wall, a form resembling in shape the interior formation of the lavatory bowl, adapted to cooperate with the movable bottom wall to assemble thematerial while 'the mold is being to their releasing. positions 'and cover 19 is lled, `an'd'a top mold wall adapted to be raised from the molded'lavatory. rll"he walls brought into the position of the form upon are now moved to their opened positions and the lavatory is left supported on thecentral section 13 of the bottom of the mold. From this it is removed and the felt 74 which has adhered to the bottom thereof, is removed as well as the horn lwhich has been molded into the lavator to form the overflow pasi sage. ln removing the horn it may be necesin order `that it may be removed with facil-` sary for the operator to trim around the horn ity to avoid breaking the walls of the .lavatory. Any roughness created by the Joints between the mold walls or the to or bottom rof the mold, is now removed and t e lavatory otherwise .prepared byspraying with glazing material, for the burnmg process.

the removal thereof.

4. In a molding machinev for lavatories, the combination of a series of side walls, a bottom wall, a plate resemblin in shape lthe top of the article to be mol ed, adaptedto occupy la position on the side walls while the mold is being lled,`and a top mold wall adapted to be brought into position on the side walls after removal of the plate.

5. ln a molding machine for lavatories the combination of a/movablc bottom wall a series of sidewalls surrounding the bottom wall, a form resembling in Ashape the interior formation of the lavatory bowl, adapted to be positioned adjacent to the interior of the movable bottom wall while loro ' the mold is being filled, a. plate resembling l In testimony whereof, I have hereunto in shape the top of the lavatory, ada,- ted to Subscribed my name this 15th day of March, 10

occupy a, positlon on said walls whlle the 1916.

mold is being lled, and a top mold Wall v 5 milaJ ted to be brought intoposition opposite I' DANIEL W'JMCNEIL' the ottom mold well and on the side wal-1s, Witnesses: upon removal of the form and. the plate i L WALTER F. MURRAY,

i from said bottom and side Walls. .s p W. THORNTON Booman 

